Appeal No. 98-1457 Page 14
Application No. 08/530,006
Confining my remarks, for the sake of brevity, to the
standing § 103 rejection of claim 1 based on Crandall, Hynds
and Schlechtendahl, admittedly the Schlechtendahl reference
does not disclose the use of an I-shaped cross-sectional
configuration in the environment of a vehicular wheel
suspension link. However, as aptly noted by the examiner on
page 3 of the supplemental answer, and as not disputed by
appellants, "[it] is well-known in the field of engineering
that members having I-shaped cross-section have a desirably
high strength-to-weight ratio." Also relevant in this regard
is the Hynds patent, which is directed to an automotive
vehicle suspension link. Concerning the cross-sectional shape
of the suspension link 12 thereof, Hynds states (column 2,
lines 32-37):
As illustrated best in Fig. 3, the cross section
of the link 12 can include longitudinal ribs 18, 20
to increase strength and resistance to stresses.
Preferably, the ribs 18, 20 are integrally molded on
the outer surface of the link 12. Other cross
sections for the link 12 are within the scope of the
invention.
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